Paper-folding machine



.June 12,. '1928;V 1,673,064

T. c. DEXTER PAPER FOLDING MACHINE- `fume-12, 1928I 1,673,064

T. c. DEXTER PAPER FoLDING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1925 5 sheets-sheet 2 o La 4 PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed Hay 15. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 guna/tof June 1.2, 192s. 1,673,064

Y T. C. .DEXTER PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed Nay 1'5, 1925` 5 ShQStS-Sht 4 June 12, 1928.l 1,673,064

T. c. DEXTER PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed., may 15. 1925 y 5 sheets-sheet 5 vwemtoz Q.

c (gub 5t 3? @ma MW Fatented .inne l2, 192B.

narran stares 'TALBOT C. DEXTER, F PEARL RIIVE'R, NEW YORK.

PAPER-nonnina insoumis.

Application led May 15, 1925. vSerial No. 39,468.

This invention relates to paper-folding machines, and its chief-object is to provide a machine of simple construction capable of rapid and accurate operation. `Another object is to provide afmachine in which the folding mechanism and the mechanism for feeding the sheets thereto are capable of relative adjustment so that the position of one or another of the folds can be accurately predetermined, such fold being located at the center of the sheet or at any other se- -iected point, at will. A further object is "o provide a machine in Which the folding oper ations are under the control of the paper itself, the folds being made only when the paper is'properly positioned, with respect to the folding instrumentalities,regardless of how early or how late the sheet may be in arriving at any particular folding device. in other words, in the preferred forni of the invention the folding devices are timed by the paper and not by each other or by the feeding means. To these and other ends the invention coinprisesthe novel features and combinations hereinafter described.

ln carrying out the invention in the pre ferred manner Iprovide a feed-table having feed rollers which not only advance the sheet into the folding mechanism but also automatically align the sheet in a predetermined manner so that successive sheets are presented in exactly the same way to the folding mechanism. The latter mechanism is designed to cause onel or more of the folds to be made, or at leat initiated, by the forward nioi'cnurnt of the paper itself, rather than by the action ol' a foldingr blade or like instruinentality. though folding blades or equivalent devices may be employed if de sired. Preferably. also, the operation of the `folding blades or like devices, when used, is controlled by pneumatic agencies which are themselves actuated or controlled by the paper in its travel through the machine. Of the various constructions in which the invention may be embodied I have ffelected for illustration and specific description horcin the one which at the present tune is considered to exhibit the invention in its most convenient and etfcctive form. This einbodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig, 1 is a plan view and Fig. Q a side view.

Fig.3 isa longitudinal section about on line 3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation, from the right l `mucheznig erated in proportion to its length and breadt for the sake of Vclear-ness.

Fig. 15, on the same sheet as Fig. 4, is a detail sectional View about on line 15 of Fier. 4.

Fig. 16, on the same sheet as Fig. 3, is a detail side view of one of the pneumatic control devices shown in Fig. 3.

The sheets o f paper are delivered to the feed table by hand, or by any suitable`1nachine for the urpose, indicated generally at 10, Fig. 2. rlhe feed table, which receives the sheets and asses them on to the folding devices, comprises a rectangular frame 11 mounted on transverse rails or guide rods 12 (Figs. 1 and 3) and shiftablc thereon by means'of a transverse screw 13 working in a nut 14 on the underside ot' the frame 1i. The screw is rotated by means-of a handwheel 15. The feed rollers lt. upon which the sheets rest and by which they are carried to the folders, are journaled diagonally in the frame 1l, as shown. Referring to Fig. l it will be understood that a sheet. (indicated by thc dotted lilies at 17) resting on the rollers will be carried longitudinally of the machine, and also transversely toward the aligning strip or bar 18, by the diagonal or inclined rollers If either corner of sheet strikes the guide bar 18 before the other v27 meshing with a similar gear 28 (see Fig.

4) on the counter' shaft 2S) driven by the pulley 30, belt 31 and pulley 32. The latter is on the main driving shaft 33 having a driving pulley 34 which may be belted to a motor or other source of power, not shown. To permit the transverse adjustment of the feed table as described above, the roller-driving shaft 26 is provided with universal joints 35, 36 (Figs. 1 and 2), and is made in two telescoping parts, one having splines 37 and the other havingr a sleeve 38 provided with internal grooves for the splines. `When the feed-table frame is shifted transversely the shaft lengthens or shortens, as the case may be, and flexes at the universal joints o5, 3G, as will be readily understood.

Reachingv the forward 'end of the feed: table the paper passes between and is seized by two transverse feed-rollers 40, 41 (Fig. 3),driven by gears 42, 43, 44, 45 (Figs. l,

' 2 and 4) from the countershaft As the sheet travels on, its forward edge strikes the depending guide plate 46, Fig. 3, and is guided up into the upper forwardly inclined chute or receiver composed of upper and lower slatted frames 48, 49 (see also Fig. 1),. The lower frame carries a'longitudinally a( jnstable stop 50, Fig. 3, secured in adjusted position by a wing-nut 51 and having a. stop linger 52 extending into the path of the paper. Striking this finger the paper is ar- .rested in Aits upward movement, and from what follows it will be seen that the position of the first fold is determined by the position of this adjustable stop. ,The sheet now has a transverse bend, as shown at 53, Fig. 7,4 in which the sheet isdesignated 54. This and the succeeding Figures, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, correspond to Fig. 2 as respects the position of the sheet and the bends and folds therein. Although the forward portion of the sheet can no longer move, the rear portion, engaged by the feed rollers 40, 41, must continue its forward movement, and since the sheet already has a downwardly directed bend, and cannot flex elsewhere or in any other direction by reason of its confinement in the chute or receiver 48--49, the sheet continues to bend downwardly, thereby bringing its transverse bend between the transverse folding and feeding rollers 41,

55, Fig. 3, the latter driven b gear 56 (Figi 2) meshing with gear 4 3, W rich, it will be remembered, drives roller 41. These rollers crease the sheet, as indicated at 57, F ig. 8, 'and vas the sheet advances (drawing the forward portion downwardly out of the chute 453-49) the crease strikes the transverse guide plate 58, Fig. 3, and the entire sheet, guided thereby', passes into the lower re-.irwardly inclined chute 59', of' the same construction as the upper chute and having a stop 60 similar to the stop 50 and similarly adjustable. From what follows it` will be seen that the position of the lower stop 60 determines the position of the second fold. As the folded sheet travels down into the lower chute the crease 57 strikes the stop (il), whereupon the lower portion is arrested, but the upper portion, already bent indicated at 6l, Fig. 9), continues its 1novenient and causes the sheet to buckle further at 61, carrying lthis bend into the bight of the transverse folding and feeding rollers 55, Fig. Roller 62 is driven by gear 63, Fig. 2, meshing witlrgear 56 which drives roller 55. Rollers/55, 62 crease the fold (3.1, as indicated in Fig. l0, andadvance the.

sheet, drawing its rear portion horizontally of the feed table, its upper portion downwardly ont of the upper chute, and its lower portion upwardly out of the lower chute.

vlhe shape of the sheetjiust'before these three movements are completed is Shown in Fig. 11, and its shape just after is shown in Fig. 12. Preferably the two chutes or receivers 48-49 and 59 are at least as Wide as the effective width of the feed table, so as to acconnnodate asheet atleast as wide as the f eod table can handle.

As the sheet is advanced by the rollers 55, 62, it is seized by the transverse feed rollers 64, 65, Fig. 3, driven by gears G6, (i7, the latter gear being driven b v gear (S3 through an idler 68. lssuing from rollers 64, (35, the sheet is received by the feedbelts or tapes- (i9, Fig. l, running over rollers 65 and 70, and passes under a folding blade or knife 7l mounted on an arm 72 (see also Fig. 2) carried by a rock shaft 3 iournaled at the side of lhe'xn'achine. At theproper time the arm 72 is rocked downwardly (as described below), causing the knife to engage the sheet as in F ig. 13 and force it downwardly into the bight of the folding and feeding rollers 7 4, 7 5, Fig. 1, driven by bevel gears 76, 77, shaft ,78, diagonal gears 79, 80, and .shaft 81 from gear 27, at a4 Speed which will insure carrying the sheet (which is being folded) out of-the way of the next succeeding sheet. These rollers complete the fold initiated'by the knife, and pass the sheet on inthe condition illustrated in Fig. 14. A transverse bar 75, Figs. 1 and 2, yis provided to square up the sheet before operation of the blade 71. Thus if the sheet is til by link 8T to a piston S8 movable vertically in a cylinder or chamber S9. See also Fig. 15, alongside of Fig. L1. Below the piston the cylinder is' connected by a tube 90 to a vacuum tank 91. Fig. 3. iii which a partial vacuum is maintained through the pipe 9'2 by an exhauster 93 driven by the shaft 33. The suction thus applied below the piston tends to draw the latter down against the tension of spring 86, but this tendency is normally nullitied by the inflow of air into `the cylinder through port 91, tube 95 and intake tube 96 located at the forward end of the folding knife 71. The intake orifice of this tube 96 may be closed by a pivoted valve 9T (see Fig. 1G,` on the same sheet as Fig. 8) having an actuating finger 98 in the path of the sheet of paper 54, so that as the paper advances it will rock the valve and close the said intake orice. The suction under the piston 88 is now effective on the piston and draws the latter down, thereby rocking the arm 85, as already described.

As the arm 85 swings down the vertically adjustable 'rod 99 carried thereby (see Figs. 4. and 1 5) strikesV a valve rod 100, niovablejvertically in ears on the side of the cylinder, and urged upwardly by a spring 101 so as to normally hold the valve 102, on the lower end of rod 100, in hermetic contact with the bottoni of the cylindei and over the air-port 103 therein. Continuing its downward movement the rod 99 depresses rod 100, and opens the port 103, thereby admitting air to the cylinder below the piston,4

which relieves the vacuum therein and pei mits spring 8G to raise the arm and blade 7l as the sheet of paper, descending rapidly between rollers 74, 75,' clears the valvefinger 98 and thereby permits spring 104, Fig. 115, to rock valve 9T back to open position. 100 is raised by its spring101 Yand closes the port 1103. i

Passing downwardly through rollers 71, 7 5, the folded sheet is'dcposited on a downwardly inclined belt conveyor 110', Figs. 4, 5 and 6. the uppei end of w lich passes over a driving roller 111. The latter is loose on tlic spindle 112, but carries a ratchet, '112B cooperating with a. pawl 111 carried by a disk 115 which is fixed on the spindle, so that as the spindle is rocked back and forth by thc arm 11G the roller will be rotated step by step, thereby imparting a similar movement As arm 85 raises rod 99 the valve-rod.

to the convcyer in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 6. The arm 110 is rocked by pneumatic means comprisingr a cylinder 117 Fig. 4, having a piston 118 connected to said arm by link 119, bell crank lever 120, and link 121. The cylinder 117 is similar to that shown iii Fig. and is connected to the vacuum tank 91 by tube 122 and to relief tube 123 (Figs. and 6) by a tube'124. rlhe normally open orilicc of tube 123 may be closed by a pivoted flap valve125 having -an actuating finger 120 overlying the curved plate 12T which i-cccivcs the folded sheet l'roin rollers Tf1, T5, and directs it laterally upon the conveyor 111).

As the paper en-` gages linger .126 it rocks the valves and thereby closes the relief tube 1:23, as in Fig. (i, whereupon the piston 118 is drawn down exactly as piston S8 is actuated in Fig. 15 when intlow of air through port 91 is prevented. This downward movement of the piston 118 rocks the arn'i 116 clockwise and gives roller 111 a like movement of corresponding extent through the agency of pawl 114 and ratchet 113, as already described. The rockingof the bell crank lever 119 by the piston brings rod 12T, adjustably mounted on the bell crank, down on valve-l rod 128, Fig. A1, depressing the latter and opening a relief port (not shown) in the descent of` bottom of the cylinder, exactly as tlie de-" pression of valve-rod in Fig. 15 opens the port 103. The suction on the piston being thus relieved, spring 129, Fig. 4, re-

tracts the arm 116 and raises the piston until valve-rod 128 closes the relietI port (not shown) in the cylinder; whereupon,

relief tube 123 heilig still closed by valve 125 held therein by the paper, the action described is repeated until the paper passes off the actuating finger 120. the conveyor is advanced, step by Step, as the folded sheet is laid upon it, thereby spreading the sheets out as. indicated, roughly, 'fat 130, Figs. 5 and .1'lhe convcyer carries the sheets or signatures `to any desired point, where they are removed by hand or otherwise. l

lt is to be understood that the invention is not limited lo the specilic construction hei-ein illustrated and described but can be einbodied in other torins without departure from its spirit as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a paper folding machine, in combination, a feed table having sheet-feeding means and means cooperating with one latcial edge of a sheet`ot paper to determine ay path Afor the sheet." folding mechanism reshifting the feed table transversely to shift the said path transversely and thereby vary 1n this way the osition of saidfold'iii the sheet, and flex )le driving means for said feeding means. l

y2. In a paper folding imachine, in' combi'- nation, a transversely shift-able feed table comprising a longitudinal guide bar at the side thereof to cooperate with a side edge of a sheet of paper and Ameans forv moving the sheet laterally tmvardand longitudinally along the guide .bar to determine .the path of the ,sheetand advance the same therein, relatively .stationary folding mechanism to receive the sheet from the feed table and having means for folding the sheet longi? tion of its path, means to receive the advanc ing sheet and produce a transverse bend therein, means adapted to engage the sheet at said bend and fold the same transversely, meansv to fold the sheet longitudinally after it has been folded transversely, and means, controlled by movement of the paper nto operative position with respect to the longitudinal folding means, for actuating the latter.

It. In a paper folding machine, in coinbination, means for advancing a sheet of paper in a transversely predetermined path, a chute positioned at an angle to the path/of the sheet to receive the latter and produce a transverse bend therein, means for continuing the advance of the portion of the sheet.

in rear of said bend after the portion in advance of the bend has reached a predetermined position in the chute, whereby the said bend is sharpened, means` for foldingl the ,sheet at the sharpened bend and advaneing the foldedsheet in its path, amlmeans under the ycontrol of the advancingtransversely ioided sheet to fold the. same longitudinally of its path.

lu a paper folding machine, in combination. a chute arranged to receive a predeieriuined portion oi' an advancing sheet of paper and give the same abend transverse to its path of'advance, means for receiving the lient sheetto fold the same at said bend and conta'nue its advance, and means controlled by the sheet for folding the sheet longitudinally of its path. l

fi. ln a paper folding machine, in combination, a chute arranged to receive. a predetcrmined portion of an advancing sheet of paper and give the same. a bend transverse to itsl path of advance, means for folding the sheet at said hend, and means controlled by tlieheet for folding the sheet longitud nal-ly flits path.

7. In a paper folding machine, incombination, means for folding an advancing sheet of paper on a transverse line determined by the position of the paper in its path of advance, and means to fold the sheet on a line longitudinal ,of its path, and means actuated by the advancing sheet at a predetermined point in 'its path to cause operation of the second-mentioned folding means.

8.- In' a paper fOldingmaChine, in combination', means for advancing a sheet of paper in its own plane, cooperating folding and feeding rollers on one side of said plane, a folding knife on'the other side of the plane, means for actuating the knife to engage the sheet apd bend the same through said plane into thebight of said rollers, and controlling means actrrated by the advancing sheet to cause operation of the knife-actuating means when the sheet reaches a predetermined point in its path.

9. In a paper folding machine, in'co1nbination, means for advancing a sheet of paper in its oivn plane, means. including an intermittently operable foldino knife, for folding the sheet of paper, and-,pneumatic means controlled by the advancing sheet to actuate said knifewhen the sheet reaches a prcdetermined point in its path of advance.

l0. In a paper folding machine, in 'combination, means for advancing a sheet of paper in `ts own plane, means for folding the sheet, inc uding an intermittently' operable folding knife, pneumatic means controlled by the advancing sheet to actuate the knife when the sheet reaches a predetermined point in its path, and a conveyer to receive the folded sheet from said folding means.

` 11. In a paper folding machine, in combination, means for advancing a sheet of paper in its own plane, intermittently operating means for folding the sheet, an intermittently operable conveyer to receive the sheet from the folding means and carryl the sheet away,l and means controlled by thinoving folded sheet to actuate the conveyer.

1Q. ln a paper folding machine, in combination, means for folding a sheet of paper, a conVeyer-to receive and carry away the folded sheet, pneumatic means for actuating the conveyer, and means actuated by the sheet to control the conveyer actuating means.

13. ln a papervfolding machine, in combination, means for advancing a shieet of paper, intermittently operablev means for folding the sheet, pneumatic suction means foractuating said folding. means, means actuated by the sheet upon reaching a predetermined point in its path of advance tc cause operation rof said suction means, a conveyer to receive the folded. sheet and carry it away, pneumatic suction means for actuating the convey'erf, means actuated by the advancingfold'e'd sheet to cause operation of the secondlmntioned .suction means, and

lllll llo vacuunieprodueing means common to both said suction means.

1li In a paper folding machine, in combinationv` means for advancing :L sheet of paper; ineens for folding thepaper, including a folding knife.; means for'V actuating the knife, including a suction`cylinder und a suction-actuatedpieton movable therein and connected with the knife; u source of Vacuuln connected with the suction cylinder to produce the suction therein; valve means actuated by the advancing sheet as it reaches ,l

a predetermined point in its path to render said suction effective on the piston; a conveyer to receive and carry away the folded sheet; suction-actuated means connected with the said source of vacuum to aewate lthe conveyei'; and means actuated by the advancing folded sheet to control the operation of the said suction-actuated means or actu- 20 ating the conveyer intermittently.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signature.

" TALBOYI C. DEXTER. 

